Strategies for Writing Essays Using Annotated Bibliographies

March 11, 2024 CustomEssay.com Write my essay

At this time of year, almost every one at all colleges and universities globally, no matter their program or focus of study, will be given the assignment of writing an essay. An annotated bibliography is often part of that process.

Here are some tips to get you started in the right direction.

An annotated bibliography, for most essays, is a critical evaluation of a number of research sources that you have used to write your essay, compiled into a list. Under each source reference in an annotated bibliography, you will be required to write a paragraph describing the content of the of source as well as your opinion on its value and importance to the field of academic inquiry. The reasons behind citing sources in this way and compiling an annotated bibliography is so that you are able to clearly prove you have done valid research to back up your thesis and claims.

An annotated bibliography usually runs from a third to a half of a page in length, depending on the requirements noted by your professor. Each source in the annotated bibliography begins with a list of the document, created according to the appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.) recommended by your instructor. This is followed by a brief description of the source to demonstrate that you have read and also thoroughly understand the source.

Once you have made your article choice, read the article thoroughly. You should even read it several times. Try to identify the thesis statement and underline it. See how the author develops the argument she or he is presenting. Are there particular questions the author is seeking to answer, and if so, identify those questions? Do you think the author has done a good job answering those questions? You might also ask whether the author has stayed on topic or whether the article brings in extraneous material. Look at how clearly the argument has been presented and note the way it has been organized.

In addition, you must include details on why you believe this particular author should be included as an expert. You may also note whether or not you believe that this author is biased in any way.